Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-28
TILE PEERLESS PRINCESS.
The Wonderful City Of all the Great
West.

Special Correspondence 10 the Cleveland Leader.
WICATrA. Kan, Jan. 15.-While roam
ing over The great west | find myself on
this beautiful winter day in the Wonderful
Winning Wichita, the great city Of the Ar
kansas valley. Now | suppose you will
think have fallen into the craze as have
all the rest of our eastern people who have
ventured into southwest Kansas. but |
truly speak an honest, quiet, and unpreju-
diced conviction in what | write you today.
| am surprised, ] will say, 10 commence
with. expected 20 find small, thriving
town out here on the plains But 10! |
find a blooming. wonderful city Of 10000
inhabitants; street cars are running III every
direction, and they tell me that
they have twenty miles Of street railway.
Two systems of electric light are wing
with each other in making this the best
lighted city in The west. Bat what was
the most interesting 10 me was the immense
amount Of business, Wholesale and retail,
that is being carried on. The wholesale
and iobbiug trade has an immense territory
to supply, and this territory is increasing
in extent and population 50 fast that the
present houses End it ngXt 10 impossible
10 supply TIE demand. The amount Of
trade handled by the concerns here for the
year 1886 was ST.. 016, coo, as against So,
600, 900 in 1888 This gives you some idea
of the increase. There are many branches
Of the wholesale trade that are not occu-
pied, and it is a field that will bear invcsti
cation by our eastern men. The popula
tion of Wichita has increased 10 eco
during the past year 1886, and i. is
conceded on all sides that the increase
for 1887 will exceed $4,000. While
this is large and almost incredible
increase, it is only keeping pace with the
surrounding country. In my travels ]
found in the southern part of the state
many towns that are having 4 wonderful
growth, but Wichita leads them all. and is
bound to become the great city of Kansas.
She now has railroads branching cut in ali
directions, and she will have an addition of
seven more during the year. among which
will be the Chicago & Rock Island and
Chicago. Burlington & Quincy, etc. But,
in building. the city of Wichita is simply
wonderful During the year just ended
there has been expended in business build
inCs over two aud onehalf million of del
lars. while in the 200 dwellings which
have been erected a like sum
has been expended Real estate as
consequence is very rapidly increasing in
value, and just as rapidly changing hands.
For the week ending Saturday night, Jan
/, the transfers in this commodity reached
the enormous figures of 81 .324 ISL In
three column article. the Wichita daily
EAG:.;: gives a prospectus of the work FOR
1887, which has already been contracted
for, aud We find the figures reaching the
wonderful sum of four millions of dollars
This estimate is based upon the work
already contracted for, and Of course will
fall away short of the amount which Will
actually be expended during the yeSr The
great trouble has been in obtaining work
men 10 do the work Brick aud stone
masons, carpenters and plasters are in great
demand, and are paid big wages Brick
are very scarce and good brickmakerS
are in demand There is splendid open
ing for large brick manufacturing con
Germ.
This is certainly Sunny Kansas. During
the entire winter thus far. while have ca
countered some cold weather-geueraliv
about 10 degrees above the temperature in
Ohio-the sun shines out brightly every
day and emily occasionally is a cloud to be
seen. This is called the Italy
of America and | have concluded
IL Is rlSnlly named. lWo days OF
good sleighing is all that has been enjoyed
here, the warm south winds of TODAY tax
ing away what little snow has fallen about
two inches. And such beautiful roads.
But l must stop or You will hesia to think
that am ''only an enthusiast too" bat
can only say in reply that You must see
for yourselves anG then You will agree that
not to much but only half has been told Of
the wonder Wichita and Southern Sunny
Kansas. ONO Traveller